If the Milwaukee Bucks are going to make another championship run, they’re going to need everyone healthy. There are two key injuries to watch.
You can make the argument that if it wasn’t for an injury to Khris Middleton in last year’s NBA Playoffs that the Milwaukee Bucks would’ve at least made it to the Finals, and perhaps they would’ve even beaten the Golden State Warriors. Two years removed from their first NBA Championship in franchise history, the Bucks will have another great chance to win another.
The only thing that could be standing in the way of another championship run for the Bucks is health. And right now, there are two key injuries to contributors that, if nothing else, should be monitored as the NBA Playoffs inch closer and closer.
As the Bucks officially clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, Khris Middleton left the game with knee soreness and didn’t return. He’ll likely rest for the remainder of the rest of the regular season but the hope is that he won’t have to miss any time in the postseason. Similarly, the team could also be without Grayson Allen for a while as an ankle he suffered a few days ago is worse than initially thought. He is also slated to miss the rest of the regular season with the hope of returning once the NBA Playoffs begin.
The Milwaukee Bucks will be the favorites heading into the NBA Playoffs
At least for now, the Bucks are going to head into the NBA Playoffs as the favorite to win the 2023 NBA title. This is a team that has hit its stride in the last couple of months as they have run away from the rest of the league. They have the best record in the NBA and will host every postseason series they participate in, including the NBA Finals (if they can get that far).
Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing at an MVP level and the Bucks have one of the strongest supporting casts in the league heading into the postseason.
The only variable that could end up preventing the Bucks from making another deep playoff run is the lack of health. Not having a healthy Middleton for their playoff run could have similar impacts on the team as it did last season, even though the team is in a better spot with its depth.
For as good as the Bucks have been in the last couple of months, this team is unlikely to win the championship without a healthy Middleton. His recent knee soreness may not be something to worry about now but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on.